17 Days, Family O' 6, $3160.00 Budget**TRIP REPORT on pg 26**@Now with Pics!@

[LisaNJ25]

Thank you so much for the link to getravelop.com. I have never heard of it before. Hubby is a county employee. So great benifits but crappy pay lol.
We will be a family of 6 in 3 more months so with site we should be able to afford a nice vacation every year. Even ifs its local.

As far ad the rooms on the way down hotwire.com will guarentee you 2 beds. Just put the amount adults and kids. Honestly, I would put 2 adults and 2 kids since your youner 2 are so small and its only for 1 night.

 

[my3kids]

not the giant Mickey sucker that looked so cute but tasted so awful.

And, you could even buy a few of those at the Dollar Store (yep, they have them with Mickey himself) for a fraction of the cost. It is a lot easier to see a kid throw away a yucky cheap sucker than a yucky expensive sucker!!

 

[grlzmom]

I hope that you post a trip report when you come back and I can't wait to read it

I have always done well with priceline and think you can definately save money that way. The gulf coast is beautiful and Tampa can easily be enjoyed for just a day or one overnight.

Also, don't forget to pack the stuff like thermometer, bandaids, tylenol, motrin, neosporin, etc. that you might normally use if a kiddo gets ill because the few times we have forgotten we have spent a fortune buying that stuff down there and paying for an urgent care clinic visit out of network and antibiotics at the pharmacy.

We have never done a trip to WDW on a strict budget but have become more budget conscious lately with dds getting older and saving more and more for college/retirement. I am inspired by some of the stuff I read on these boards.

One area we always spend alot on is film and developing/printing of pictures. Lots of kids, lots of pictures.

I bet you are going to create some wonderful family memories and hope that you are able to stick to the budget!!


Jeanne
mom to seven disney crazed kids

 

[StephMK]

I really admire the OP. This sounds like a family that wants to have a good time, that doesn't consider food a major part of the vacation. ...but DH and DS would be happy with mac n cheese, hot dogs, and fried rice for weeks on end...to be truthful, they'd probably like me cooking the cheap stuff more than going to a restaurant. I love it that the OP and her family have a varied vacation of 17 days...they'll remember the 17 days, and all who are advising to wait until they have the money to have a bigger budget...the kids will never be this age again, who knows if the vacation time will be available, and none of us can count on being here next year or next week.

I agree completely!!! You just don't know what can happen, the experiences they share will be priceless.

My family went last year for the first time & while the food was good, it definitely wasn't memorable for the kids. Yes, they remember the characters from CM & CRT but food, no. OP, you have inspired me to try & make a second trip possible this fall. We'd been talking about it but would really have to budget this time around since we splurged on our first trip last fall. My 2 yo son still talks about it & we all want to go back. There is such magic to go w/them when they're young, I think your budget is great & hope to hear all about your trip when you get back!!

 

[tiki23]

I agree completely!!! You just don't know what can happen, the experiences they share will be priceless.

My family went last year for the first time & while the food was good, it definitely wasn't memorable for the kids....

I definitely agree as well!

Our one and only past Disney trip was to DL almost 7 years ago. Last night we were again watching one of the many videos my husband shot of the trip. In one scene we were eating churros and I asked the kids (now ages 12, 13 & 15) if they remember anything or anywhere else we ate on vacation and the only thing they could come up with was the fact that they were able to eat pancakes and bacon every day at the free breakfast service at our hotel!

As for their memories of the trip itself - priceless! Even with the videos and tons of pics, they still have little memories of their own that mean so much to each one of them personally - the kind of memories that live in their hearts and not on film.

 

[TNKBELL]

grlzmom...You are so right!! We always travel with motrin, tylenol,orajel,firstaid kit.ect.. It seems like when you have it, you don't need it, but when you don't something always happens! I will definately be posting a trip report,probably here on the budget board, along with my receipts in hand. Knowing there will be witnesses to my budget will help me stick to it!geety... Your memorable moments reminded me of our own, like those little lizards that are everywhere! My Dks just loved chasing and watching them scatter! My Ds8 falling asleep everytime we got onto the bus, Dd3 at the beach picking up every single seashell she could, it didn't matter if it was dirty or broken, she thought each and every one was beautiful,and just unwinding at the end of the day and thinking "these are the happy times!"

 

[caribear]

Not sure if this was mentioned, but since the hurricanes last year most of the zoos and aquariums have changed their reciprical policies. Instead of free admission, most are now 50% off admission. I belong to a zoo here in Florida, that's why I wanted to mention this. I know my zoo is now 50% off instead of free...same with the Melbourne Zoo.

 

[dandee00]

Tnkbell you're amazing! This vacation will be a family event your children will always remember. Why? Because you were all together having a great time. My DH and I are going to Disney in Jan 2006 and I have been planning and budgeting since Jan 2005. We decided to do this trip while we're still young enough and healthy enough to do it.
Our friends think we're crazy to drive to Florida from Canada and take our entire vacation time of 4 weeks at one time. Crazy? Yeah, maybe, but it's an adventure...it's our dream...and DH and I will be together.
I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip.
One suggestion would be to consider buying a AAA membership. We bought CAA so, if something happens to the vehicle we're only a phone call away from help.

 

[TNKBELL]

Dee, if we can do it from Kansas so can you! I have a friend in Alaska who really wants us to visit, so we may be coming through Canada on our way. It will definately be an adventure @ 4000 miles one way!! We do have AAA but I figure since we are renting the van that any trouble should be handled by the rental company. My Dh has 4 weeks of vacation per year also, but here in the U.S. it's not the norm, mostly it's just 2 weeks. Your vacation will be the trip of a lifetime, enjoy every moment!! I'll be cheering for you!! Write a report when you return!!

 

[faindrops27]

Tnkbell. You are the best!! What you said about money. Is so true. I know you and your family will have a wonderful time. I hope you all will immensly enjoy it. As for me, I love to find bargins, I am the type that if I am overcharged by a nickel. I will fight for it.

Anyhow , my family and I, dh, 3 kids, ds12, ds3, and dd1, will be going in october,we will be staying in a townhome @ windsor hills. The food, budget I set,was 40 a day per person.( We love to eat) Which totals 1800 dollars for 9 nights for the 5 of us. I charged 40 dollars even for dd, so we will have extra spending money.For misc. But, after reading your post. I am going to try, and deeply discount this budget. Just to thinK 1800 on food, and maybe a ballon or 2 seems ridiculous. So, anyone have any suggestions for me. Or should I just keep my budget?

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Since you are doing your condo shopping from your regular food budget I could see how you could average $26 per day fairly easily. This is the sort of thing I'd choose to do so that I could ski. When traveling to Disney with a group we'd also choose to do a bit of shopping and cooking to stock the condo and then make meals by essentially combining leftovers and fresh foods.

One nice thing you can do when shopping is to build in sometype of nice condo treat. Lay it out on a plate party style with whatever drinks your family enjoys. Cheese, fruit and crackers, nachos, chips...

Anyway I can see your $26 if you don't spend it everyday. Lets say you spend $3 per day on everyone everyday you are in the parks...that's $18 and you have $8 per day you can accumulate towards a day where you might spend $6 per per person. Better yet a day where you spend almost nothing.

Also...if you are going to go as far as Tampa I'd suggest trying to get a hotel on the beach in Clearwater. Yes you are going to have to drive to get to the Lowery Park Zoo but you'll be on the beach. Sept/Oct is off season so you might be able to priceline yourself into a nice location. I can't picture any place in Tampa I'd want to stay if my goal was a day at the beach. Instead I'd aim for Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks, St.Petersburg or Treasure Island. In other words...get a map from AAA of the area and then try to pinpoint a hotel from there. Clearwater has big hotels which is why I'm suggesting it.

I agree with everyone else that you should be able to do better about hotels on the road. Get the books and maps for each state from AAA and try and pinpoint where you would want to stay. If you are not an AAA member see if you can get someone who is to get you the material.

 

[stahshee]

tink i am so happy you have posted i am a family of 6 and i was think 200 per day for all of us now. iam thinking eat out once and make it 40 per day! that will = 360 on food for the week. i like that better. my kids are getting 20 per child(4) from the money they make at a garage sale.( we are having 8 garage sales throught the summer.) I am hoping to make at leasr anothor 200 from my garage sale that will give us a ch dinner and spending money for me to by christmas ornaments . I am bringing my drinks to the park and snacks. i am also brining breakfast items. I plan to go to the park real early and leave at 1 and come back around 5. YOU GO GIRL

 

[MrsPete]

I asked the kids (now ages 12, 13 & 15) if they remember anything or anywhere else we ate on vacation and the only thing they could come up with was the fact that they were able to eat pancakes and bacon every day at the free breakfast service at our hotel

I suppose kids are different in this way (as well as every other way!). I asked my kids what they remembered about meals at Disney, and they have VERY SPECIFIC memories of Cinderella's breakfast, Ohana's, the Rainforest Cafe, and especially their favorite: Chef Mickey's. They definitely remembered the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream. They could both remember details about the type of foods served and the atmosphere. Their memories weren't necessarily the same as mine; for example, my just-turned 11 year old remembered that the nice waiter at Ohana's gave her a grilled cheese and chocolate milk.

The other thing my kids remember most vividly is the pool at Wilderness Lodge and the mouse boats.

What they DO NOT seem to remember with exactness is the parks. Both mentioned Splash Mountain, and the oldest remembers Rock-and-Roll roller coaster. If I prompted them, they'd remember about 50% of the time -- like if I said, "Do you remember the ride with the people who disappeared in an elevator?", they'd say, "Yeah, but I can't remember its name -- it was okay". Their park memories seem to be very general: "Yeah, it was fun. We liked the rides, but we can't describe them now." 100% of their memories were good though; for example, they had completely forgotten going to Typhoon Lagoon when it was already packed to the gills, then being driven out by lightning.

I agree that asking kids later what they remember is a good test for where you should focus your vacation dollar on the next trip.

 

[Yardbird]

Debi, I just wanted to say that I admire your frugality, and I know that you can do it!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I suppose kids are different in this way (as well as every other way!). I asked my kids what they remembered about meals at Disney, and they have VERY SPECIFIC memories of Cinderella's breakfast, Ohana's, the Rainforest Cafe, and especially their favorite: Chef Mickey's. They definitely remembered the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream. They could both remember details about the type of foods served and the atmosphere. Their memories weren't necessarily the same as mine; for example, my just-turned 11 year old remembered that the nice waiter at Ohana's gave her a grilled cheese and chocolate milk.

Your kids sound alot like my son. He remembers and enjoys the meals as much as the rides.

We used the dining plan during our trip last month. We're returning for a short trip in October to celebrate his birthday. I've been asking him what he wants to do on that trip. So far every response includes food, steak and apple crisp from Rose and Crown, vegetable soup from Cosmic Rays, anything from Teppenyaki, fudge, chocolate chip cookies, funnel cakes.

 

[goodferry]

Well, I know my family could not do this, but I am all for helping yours do it! I would definitely look into finding hotels along the way and making ressies ahead of time. Last trip, we were able to get an Embassy Suites for the night before our flight for $26 per night. There were two double beds and a pull out couch, plus free breakfast! We got this deal on Hotwire, I have never tried Priceline, though.
Another thought would be the meal vouchers at Animal Kingdom. They are $6 for the kids meal vouchers and if you go to Pizzafarri, the kids pizzas are the same size as the regular sized ones, if I remember correctly. Plus you get a snack and a bottle of water or soda. Also Wolfgang Puck Express has a Rotisserie Chicken with two sides for about $12 I think.
I don't know if you have checked out mousesavers yet (I assume you have!) but her tip about restaurants.com is a good one. We got $100 worth of gift certificates for a local restaurant for $20 with the 50% off code she had listed. There are no on site restaurants on there, but there are plenty of others.

 

[sln88]

Tink
you are doing an awesome job, and although it may not be for everyone, it is the same thing we do. Breakfast in the condo, lunch brought in, and McDonalds, frozen pizza or = for dinner. McDonalds is a treat for my kids, so they are happy with that. For breakfast, I slack a little and let them have the junky cereal, and by bringing food into the parks, we don't waste alot of time with lines and figuring out where we want to eat.
I always have tons of room left in our suitcases, so I bring lots of food that I got cheap/free from home(it would kill me to pay full price for something). I brought my coupons with me and found some decent deals at the store(you sound like a mycouponer? are you?)
This does not ruin our vacation at all. We did do a character breakfast that I got with kellogg kash, and did a couple of other dinners thru hotwire(sad that that is over!), but it is not what our whole vacation is about. I can go out to eat here, but we don't have Disneyworld in Wisconsin!
good luck and have an awesome trip!

 

[pigget74]

Does anyone know if the discount on rooms applies to teachers or not? I saw were some were going to find out--just curious as to what you have learned.

 

[dismom9761]

I have loved reading this thread. We are a family of 6 also.I am trying to work on a budget for Feb.06.I am also a SAHM.We are going for 10 days w/ my parents.It's me and the kids because my DH can't go.I l have gottensome good ideas reading the tips that everyone has been giving the original PO.

 

[myladyisatramp]

Boy I have been to disney probably about 9 times and I couldn't imagine doing it in 26.00 per day for all 5 of us Snacks or and ice cream in the park and you have hit your mark. Where will you eat Mcdonalds every meal... I think you need to reevaluate your budget a little bit. If you have breakfast in that will save but your not going to run back to your condo if its not right at the park are you for lunch. Well good luck I hope you can do it I know I couldn't.